The Bible tells us, in
the beginning was the word,
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.57
and the word was with
God, and the word was God.
00:00:03.60\00:00:07.50
It says to receive with meekness
00:00:07.54\00:00:09.54
the implanted word,
00:00:09.57\00:00:10.97
which is able
to save your souls,
00:00:11.01\00:00:13.51
and to be diligent to present
yourself approved to God,
00:00:13.54\00:00:17.51
rightly dividing
the word of truth.
00:00:17.55\00:00:20.22
Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:20.25\00:00:24.05
Our study today is
00:00:24.09\00:00:25.89
"The Holy Spirit
and Spirituality."
00:00:25.92\00:00:30.89
Hello, and welcome to
3ABN's Sabbath school.
00:00:30.93\00:00:33.50
We are so excited to be
here, and so excited about our
00:00:33.53\00:00:38.70
quarterly for the
first quarter of 2017.
00:00:38.73\00:00:41.97
We're glad that
you're joining us.
00:00:42.00\00:00:44.11
And if you would
like to follow along,
00:00:44.14\00:00:46.11
if you don't have a
Sabbath school quarterly,
00:00:46.14\00:00:48.68
this quarter is the
Holy Spirit in Spirituality,
00:00:48.71\00:00:52.41
an incredible study.
00:00:52.45\00:00:54.72
But if you don't have that,
00:00:54.75\00:00:56.12
you can go and download that
00:00:56.15\00:00:57.99
by going to absg that stands for
00:00:58.02\00:01:01.62
Adult Bible Study Guide
00:01:01.66\00:01:03.96
absg.adventist.org
<http://absg.adventist.org>
00:01:03.99\00:01:08.66
and follow along with us.
00:01:08.70\00:01:10.70
Thank you for joining us.
00:01:10.73\00:01:12.07
We encourage you
to get your Bible,
00:01:12.10\00:01:13.44
get a pen, and let's
delve into the word of God.
00:01:13.47\00:01:17.01
Joining me today on
this illustrious panel,
00:01:17.04\00:01:19.94
and I say that
because they're all stars
00:01:19.97\00:01:22.24
in the Kingdom of God.
00:01:22.28\00:01:23.61
They shine for the
Lord, are some dear friends,
00:01:23.65\00:01:26.41
and people who
each and every one
00:01:26.45\00:01:28.32
are teachers of the Word of God
00:01:28.35\00:01:30.05
so, I can't wait to
hear what they have to talk
00:01:30.09\00:01:33.96
about during this.
00:01:33.99\00:01:35.39
We've got with me
here is Brian Hamilton.
00:01:35.42\00:01:38.69
And, Brian, you are
going to do Monday's lesson,
00:01:38.73\00:01:41.70
then we have Mollie Sue Steenson
00:01:41.73\00:01:43.87
who will be
doing Tuesday's lesson,
00:01:43.90\00:01:46.10
Jill Morikone will be
doing Wednesday's lesson,
00:01:46.13\00:01:48.84
and Pastor John Lomacang
will do Thursday's lesson.
00:01:48.87\00:01:52.74
I'm Shelley Quinn and
I'll be kicking it off
00:01:52.77\00:01:55.48
for Sunday's lesson.
00:01:55.51\00:01:56.85
But before we begin,
let's go to the Lord in prayer.
00:01:56.88\00:02:01.12
Pastor John,
would you like to pray?
00:02:01.15\00:02:03.18
Loving Father in heaven,
00:02:03.22\00:02:04.95
it is so important
that heaven pours into us
00:02:04.99\00:02:07.79
before we can even attempt
00:02:07.82\00:02:10.33
to pour into
someone else's life.
00:02:10.36\00:02:12.23
And so, Lord,
come now near to us
00:02:12.26\00:02:13.93
and speak to our hearts.
00:02:13.96\00:02:15.56
We've written
down notes, but, Lord,
00:02:15.60\00:02:18.33
shed your light upon them that
they may be food in the hearts
00:02:18.37\00:02:22.47
and minds of
those who are watching
00:02:22.50\00:02:23.91
and listening to the program,
00:02:23.94\00:02:25.77
and anoint each of us
that Jesus may be exalted
00:02:25.81\00:02:28.48
we pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:02:28.51\00:02:31.71
Amen.
00:02:31.75\00:02:33.21
Well, if you
have your study guide,
00:02:33.25\00:02:34.98
today is lesson eight.
00:02:35.02\00:02:36.89
It is the Holy Spirit
and the Gifts of the Spirit.
00:02:36.92\00:02:41.09
You know there's some
confusion in the world
00:02:41.12\00:02:43.36
about that, in the church,
00:02:43.39\00:02:44.73
about the Gifts of the Spirit,
00:02:44.76\00:02:46.09
so I'm so glad that we
are doing this study today.
00:02:46.13\00:02:48.73
And let's look
at our memory text
00:02:48.76\00:02:51.97
which is found in
1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
00:02:52.00\00:02:58.34
It's 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
00:02:58.37\00:03:02.24
Why don't we just
say that together?
00:03:02.28\00:03:04.28
"There are diversities of gifts,
00:03:04.31\00:03:06.95
but the same Spirit.
00:03:06.98\00:03:08.98
There are
differences of ministries,
00:03:09.02\00:03:11.85
but the same Lord.
00:03:11.89\00:03:13.79
And there are
diversities of activities,
00:03:13.82\00:03:17.33
but it is the same
God who works all in all."
00:03:17.36\00:03:22.80
If someone asks
you to build a home,
00:03:22.83\00:03:27.27
let, John, I will just
ask you, if I tell you, John,
00:03:27.30\00:03:31.44
I want you to build
a home while I'm gone.
00:03:31.47\00:03:34.04
And it's out in the country,
00:03:34.08\00:03:35.84
but I leave you no instructions,
00:03:35.88\00:03:38.85
no tools to work with,
00:03:38.88\00:03:40.58
how successful
are you going to be?
00:03:40.62\00:03:42.75
I wouldn't want you
to see what I've built,
00:03:42.78\00:03:44.22
put it that way.
00:03:44.25\00:03:45.75
I don't think you want to,
00:03:45.79\00:03:47.19
I think you'd
want your money back.
00:03:47.22\00:03:48.56
Amen.
00:03:48.59\00:03:49.92
Put it that way, I'll
be terribly a failure.
00:03:49.96\00:03:52.46
Or you know
when you think of it.
00:03:52.49\00:03:53.83
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone
of the church, is He not?
00:03:53.86\00:03:56.67
He is the foundation,
but when He went to heaven,
00:03:56.70\00:04:00.47
what He left a
specific task for us to do.
00:04:00.50\00:04:03.20
And that was to
build God's house,
00:04:03.24\00:04:07.38
which is the church.
00:04:07.41\00:04:09.08
But what He commands us to
do or commissions us to do,
00:04:09.11\00:04:12.88
He enables us to do.
00:04:12.91\00:04:14.52
So that is where both the fruit
and the gifts of the Spirit,
00:04:14.55\00:04:18.85
I believe come into play.
00:04:18.89\00:04:20.86
I'm going to read to you,
00:04:20.89\00:04:22.22
if you'd like to turn
their 1 Corinthians 1,
00:04:22.26\00:04:27.20
and these are verses 4-7.
00:04:27.23\00:04:29.30
I'm kind of a let a
little bit out here,
00:04:29.33\00:04:33.44
but Paul is giving
thanks for the grace of God
00:04:33.47\00:04:38.51
which was given to you.
00:04:38.54\00:04:39.94
Everything comes
to us by God's grace.
00:04:39.97\00:04:42.91
Grace is the unearned,
00:04:42.94\00:04:44.75
undeserved gifts of
God or favor of God.
00:04:44.78\00:04:48.18
He says, "For the grace of God
00:04:48.22\00:04:49.55
which was given to
you in Christ Jesus,
00:04:49.58\00:04:51.02
that in everything
you were enriched in Him
00:04:51.05\00:04:53.96
so that you are not
lacking in any gift."
00:04:53.99\00:04:58.59
And when you think of this,
00:04:58.63\00:05:00.76
that is what this
week study is all about.
00:05:00.80\00:05:03.03
We're going to be looking
00:05:03.06\00:05:04.40
at the Holy Spirit
as the sovereign giver
00:05:04.43\00:05:08.30
of his remarkable gifts
00:05:08.34\00:05:10.97
and it will be
looking at the difference
00:05:11.01\00:05:13.44
between the fruit and
the gifts of the Spirit.
00:05:13.48\00:05:17.81
So in Sunday's
lesson, we have fruit.
00:05:17.85\00:05:20.88
We have gifts.
00:05:20.92\00:05:23.08
Who's the author?
00:05:23.12\00:05:25.25
One and the same.
One and the same author.
00:05:25.29\00:05:28.02
The fruit comes from the Spirit,
00:05:28.06\00:05:29.82
the gifts come from the
Spirit, but they're all,
00:05:29.86\00:05:32.23
we will look in moment
that the Godhead is included.
00:05:32.26\00:05:36.00
Have you ever noticed is
there any specific commandment
00:05:36.03\00:05:39.97
for any one of us to manifest
one of the gifts of the Spirit?
00:05:40.00\00:05:46.21
Actually, no.
00:05:46.24\00:05:47.58
No. There's not really any.
00:05:47.61\00:05:48.94
There is not a
single commandment.
00:05:48.98\00:05:52.28
That is the gift that
is given by the Holy Spirit
00:05:52.31\00:05:55.15
according to his will,
00:05:55.18\00:05:57.49
but all Christians are supposed
00:05:57.52\00:06:00.29
to manifest the
fruit of the Spirit.
00:06:00.32\00:06:04.06
Amen.
00:06:04.09\00:06:05.43
Because this is the
essence of Christ's nature,
00:06:05.46\00:06:07.46
of God's nature and
when the Spirit is in us,
00:06:07.50\00:06:10.83
that love, joy, peace, patience,
00:06:10.87\00:06:13.20
kindness, goodness, gentleness,
00:06:13.23\00:06:14.94
faithfulness, and self-control,
00:06:14.97\00:06:16.91
is something that's to be in us.
00:06:16.94\00:06:19.21
So that is something
that grows out of relationship
00:06:19.24\00:06:23.08
with divine, does it not?
00:06:23.11\00:06:24.68
But let's take a little closer
look then now at the gifts,
00:06:24.71\00:06:29.02
because this is something
the Holy Spirit is going to,
00:06:29.05\00:06:33.96
it's up to him who
receives those gifts.
00:06:33.99\00:06:36.59
Let's go back to
1 Corinthians 12,
00:06:36.62\00:06:39.19
our memory verse, verses 4-7.
00:06:39.23\00:06:42.20
All three members of the Godhead
00:06:42.23\00:06:44.50
are shown in
this scripture passage
00:06:44.53\00:06:47.04
1 Corinthians 12:4-7.
00:06:47.07\00:06:49.24
And I want you to notice,
Paul is so good at wordplay.
00:06:49.27\00:06:54.31
I want you to notice his play
on diversities and difference
00:06:54.34\00:06:59.88
and the same Spirit,
the same Lord Jesus Christ,
00:06:59.91\00:07:04.45
the same God.
00:07:04.49\00:07:06.82
So, Mollie, read verse 4.
00:07:06.86\00:07:11.43
"There are diversities of gifts,
00:07:11.46\00:07:13.23
but the same Spirit."
00:07:13.26\00:07:14.60
Okay, so we've got on one
hand the diversities of gifts,
00:07:14.63\00:07:17.80
the same spirit.
00:07:17.83\00:07:19.23
The gifts there in the
Greek that's charismata,
00:07:19.27\00:07:22.50
these are gifts of grace is
what the literal meaning is.
00:07:22.54\00:07:27.31
So when the Holy
Spirit dwells in us,
00:07:27.34\00:07:30.85
and if he gifts us,
00:07:30.88\00:07:32.31
then he is working
in a very special way
00:07:32.35\00:07:35.48
in each individual
00:07:35.52\00:07:38.39
but all operation
is controlled by him.
00:07:38.42\00:07:41.66
So there is no room for pride.
00:07:41.69\00:07:43.12
Brian, why don't
you take verse 5?
00:07:43.16\00:07:44.89
Okay.
00:07:44.93\00:07:46.33
"There are
differences of ministries,
00:07:46.36\00:07:50.53
but the same Lord."
00:07:50.57\00:07:51.90
All right, and when
we use the word Lord
00:07:51.93\00:07:53.60
in the New Testament
who are they referring to?
00:07:53.64\00:07:55.60
Jesus. Lord, Jesus Christ.
00:07:55.64\00:07:57.34
So here, again, we've
got differences but the same.
00:07:57.37\00:08:02.24
So we've got the same
Spirit, the same Lord.
00:08:02.28\00:08:05.11
So there is different
ministries or services
00:08:05.15\00:08:07.78
and they're all originated
00:08:07.82\00:08:09.45
and controlled by
one Lord Jesus Christ
00:08:09.48\00:08:11.92
and then verse 6, Jill?
00:08:11.95\00:08:14.52
"And there are
diversities of activities,
00:08:14.56\00:08:16.83
but it is the same
God who works all in all."
00:08:16.86\00:08:20.03
So here we see
once again all three.
00:08:20.06\00:08:23.87
We've got the same Spirit,
the same Lord, the same God.
00:08:23.90\00:08:29.87
So we see that the
Godhead is all wrapped up here,
00:08:29.90\00:08:34.88
but then these
diversities of activities
00:08:34.91\00:08:37.85
are worked out by
the divine energy of God.
00:08:37.88\00:08:42.92
And, you know,
all of these gifts
00:08:42.95\00:08:46.52
reflect the essential
unity of the Holy Spirit
00:08:46.55\00:08:51.59
and it is all unified,
00:08:51.63\00:08:53.96
it's the unified
work of the Spirit,
00:08:54.00\00:08:56.26
the Father and Jesus Christ.
00:08:56.30\00:08:59.20
The Holy Spirit
gives us these gifts,
00:08:59.23\00:09:01.27
he uses them and
powers them for what purpose?
00:09:01.30\00:09:04.81
What is the
purpose of the gifts?
00:09:04.84\00:09:07.38
To build up the church.
00:09:07.41\00:09:08.74
To build up the church.
00:09:08.78\00:09:10.11
The purpose of the fruit
00:09:10.15\00:09:12.35
is that we develop the
character of Jesus Christ,
00:09:12.38\00:09:16.32
but the purpose of the
gifts is to build up the church.
00:09:16.35\00:09:21.66
And there's no room for pride
00:09:21.69\00:09:23.83
when you have any
one of these gifts
00:09:23.86\00:09:26.46
because it is
given by, controlled by,
00:09:26.49\00:09:29.96
and employed by the Holy Spirit.
00:09:30.00\00:09:32.73
So if God is giving His gifts...
00:09:32.77\00:09:35.74
Let me put it
this way, God is love,
00:09:38.77\00:09:40.58
He gives us gifts to
build up His house, His temple.
00:09:40.61\00:09:45.05
What is the
motivation that we should have
00:09:45.08\00:09:48.25
to use these gifts?
00:09:48.28\00:09:50.49
Love. Love.
00:09:50.52\00:09:51.85
Amen.
00:09:51.89\00:09:53.22
To serve God and
to serve His people.
00:09:53.25\00:09:55.06
Now, look at verse 7.
00:09:55.09\00:09:56.83
John, would you take verse 7?
00:09:56.86\00:09:58.79
"But the manifestation
of the Spirit is given
00:09:58.83\00:10:01.90
to each one for
the profit of all."
00:10:01.93\00:10:05.13
Okay, so these gifts
that are given by the Spirit
00:10:05.17\00:10:09.70
are to reveal the
true nature of God,
00:10:09.74\00:10:13.34
but for what
purpose are they given?
00:10:13.38\00:10:15.64
Everybody should profit from it.
00:10:15.68\00:10:17.01
Yes, for the common benefit,
so this isn't something that
00:10:17.05\00:10:20.88
when God chooses, you know,
the way I look at this, well,
00:10:20.92\00:10:23.79
let me reserve this
comment, let's look at verse 11
00:10:23.82\00:10:27.09
and, Brian, would
you read verse 11?
00:10:27.12\00:10:29.92
Okay, "But one
and the same Spirit
00:10:29.96\00:10:32.59
works all these things,
00:10:32.63\00:10:35.40
distributing to each one
individually as He wills."
00:10:35.43\00:10:40.74
So all the gifts
of the Spirit work
00:10:40.77\00:10:43.10
in harmony with the plan
00:10:43.14\00:10:46.07
that God has to
build His church,
00:10:46.11\00:10:48.94
but He gives him
to surrendered souls
00:10:48.98\00:10:51.11
to equip them to do
His work, doesn't He?
00:10:51.15\00:10:52.88
That's right.
00:10:52.91\00:10:54.25
And see, what I
love about this is
00:10:54.28\00:10:56.05
that verse shows the personality
00:10:56.08\00:10:57.85
of the Holy Spirit.
00:10:57.89\00:10:59.82
It shows him as the
sovereign, his sovereignty,
00:10:59.85\00:11:02.82
he distributes
these as he wills.
00:11:02.86\00:11:05.56
But he chooses.
00:11:05.59\00:11:06.96
So we see the
person of the Holy Spirit
00:11:07.00\00:11:09.80
and we see his sovereignty.
00:11:09.83\00:11:13.00
Now, one thing that I've noticed
00:11:13.03\00:11:14.74
and we're not going to
have time to get to this,
00:11:14.77\00:11:17.27
I don't think,
00:11:17.31\00:11:18.64
is that we have
a list of the gifts
00:11:18.67\00:11:22.21
in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12,
00:11:22.24\00:11:24.45
Ephesians 4, and
then they're touched on in
00:11:24.48\00:11:26.68
1 Peter 4,
00:11:26.72\00:11:28.18
but they're always mentioned
in the context of love.
00:11:28.22\00:11:33.49
In 1 Corinthians 12:8 it
talks about the word of wisdom,
00:11:33.52\00:11:37.66
word of knowledge,
faith, gifts of healing,
00:11:37.69\00:11:39.89
miracles, prophecy,
00:11:39.93\00:11:41.26
distinguishing between
Spirits of discernment,
00:11:41.30\00:11:43.97
the tongues,
interpretation of tongues.
00:11:44.00\00:11:46.30
But immediately after comes
the supreme description of love
00:11:46.33\00:11:52.34
and he says that,
00:11:52.37\00:11:53.71
if we operate any of
these gifts without love,
00:11:53.74\00:11:56.34
we're like a
clanging cymbal, are we not?
00:11:56.38\00:12:00.42
Now, in Romans
12:6-8 it lists prophecy,
00:12:00.45\00:12:05.05
ministry or serving,
teaching, exhortation,
00:12:05.09\00:12:08.36
giving, leadership, and mercy,
00:12:08.39\00:12:10.79
but immediately
following he says,
00:12:10.83\00:12:13.46
"Let love be without hypocrisy.
00:12:13.50\00:12:16.50
Abhor what is evil,
cling to what is good.
00:12:16.53\00:12:19.67
So, and be kindly
affectionate to one another
00:12:19.70\00:12:22.84
with brotherly love."
00:12:22.87\00:12:24.64
And when we think of
this then what we see is that
00:12:24.67\00:12:29.01
everywhere that it's listed,
00:12:29.04\00:12:31.48
the gifts of grace are listed
00:12:31.51\00:12:35.25
in the context of
being motivated by love,
00:12:35.28\00:12:38.29
being surrounded by love,
00:12:38.32\00:12:40.59
and they are given to accomplish
00:12:40.62\00:12:43.26
what God has
commissioned His people to do.
00:12:43.29\00:12:47.36
It's good.
00:12:47.40\00:12:48.73
We serve the God of
love in reaching others
00:12:48.76\00:12:51.43
and the gifts are
really practically worthless
00:12:51.47\00:12:54.70
without love.
00:12:54.74\00:12:56.07
That's right. True.
00:12:56.10\00:12:57.44
Any comments?
00:12:57.47\00:12:59.21
You know I noticed... Go ahead.
00:12:59.24\00:13:01.18
What I noticed is,
00:13:01.21\00:13:02.54
and I'm glad you
brought this out.
00:13:02.58\00:13:04.21
There's personal
benefit from the fruits.
00:13:04.25\00:13:06.68
Absolutely.
00:13:06.72\00:13:08.05
You know this personal benefit.
00:13:08.08\00:13:09.52
So don't ask for
gifts for personal benefit.
00:13:09.55\00:13:11.99
That's true. That's good.
00:13:12.02\00:13:13.36
To ask for gifts to
personal benefit is,
00:13:13.39\00:13:15.22
is contrary to the
whole purpose of gifts,
00:13:15.26\00:13:19.03
is for the
building up of the church.
00:13:19.06\00:13:20.66
So when people say,
well, I want the gift of...
00:13:20.70\00:13:24.20
I want the gift of and
whatever they follow with.
00:13:24.23\00:13:26.23
It's never intended for you
to be the personal benefactor.
00:13:26.27\00:13:29.20
It's always intended,
the gift is given through you
00:13:29.24\00:13:32.47
for the benefit of the church.
00:13:32.51\00:13:33.84
Absolutely.
00:13:33.88\00:13:35.21
Not for your own
personal benefit,
00:13:35.24\00:13:36.58
so to brag that
you have a certain gift
00:13:36.61\00:13:37.98
is contrary to the spirit,
00:13:38.01\00:13:40.15
and secondly,
00:13:40.18\00:13:42.15
you can't brag
that you have a gift
00:13:42.18\00:13:44.99
unless the Spirit
has given you that gift.
00:13:45.02\00:13:46.89
Yes.
00:13:46.92\00:13:48.26
See so, it's all that
he decides, well, Jill,
00:13:48.29\00:13:51.16
you needed particular gift
because of the circumstance
00:13:51.19\00:13:53.66
I allowed you to be in,
and I would also say this,
00:13:53.70\00:13:57.40
while the gift, while
the list is given there
00:13:57.43\00:13:59.53
and you know
Romans has other list
00:13:59.57\00:14:01.60
and we have other...
00:14:01.64\00:14:03.91
Ephesians have
other list of other gifts.
00:14:03.94\00:14:06.71
They're all given to the,
00:14:06.74\00:14:08.21
to the position that God
has chosen for you to be in.
00:14:08.24\00:14:11.11
For example, if Brian's
on the basketball court,
00:14:11.15\00:14:14.48
he doesn't need,
00:14:14.52\00:14:15.85
he doesn't need the
gift of administration.
00:14:15.88\00:14:18.89
But the position he's in,
00:14:18.92\00:14:20.49
he does need the
gift of administration.
00:14:20.52\00:14:22.42
And while it's a skill...
00:14:22.46\00:14:23.79
If I was a coach, maybe I would.
00:14:23.83\00:14:25.26
See, that's true. Okay.
00:14:25.29\00:14:26.63
That's a good application. Yeah.
00:14:26.66\00:14:28.00
So it's a given for,
00:14:28.03\00:14:30.33
the benefit is
the fruits personally.
00:14:30.37\00:14:32.43
Yeah, but, you know, I
do think of one scripture
00:14:32.47\00:14:34.67
that's coming to mind,
I don't know where it's,
00:14:34.70\00:14:36.14
where it is but I
know Paul wrote it.
00:14:36.17\00:14:37.64
He said, "Eagerly
desire the greater gifts."
00:14:37.67\00:14:40.78
Yeah.
00:14:40.81\00:14:42.14
And I think this is
something that we should pray
00:14:42.18\00:14:46.21
and ask God, what is my job?
00:14:46.25\00:14:49.25
Everybody in the body of Christ,
00:14:49.28\00:14:52.55
it doesn't matter if you
are the janitor of the church
00:14:52.59\00:14:55.72
or you're mowing the lawn,
00:14:55.76\00:14:57.86
everybody's got something to do.
00:14:57.89\00:15:00.13
That's a, you
know, gift of helps
00:15:00.16\00:15:02.10
I think of that people help,
00:15:02.13\00:15:04.07
but what we need to
do is pray and say, Lord,
00:15:04.10\00:15:07.40
use me in the
greatest way You can.
00:15:07.44\00:15:10.01
1 Corinthians
12:31 in the Scripture.
00:15:10.04\00:15:12.47
1 Corinthians 12:31.
00:15:12.51\00:15:13.84
Okay, Brian, why don't
you tell us about Monday?
00:15:13.88\00:15:17.51
Okay.
00:15:17.55\00:15:18.88
The title for Monday's lesson,
00:15:18.91\00:15:22.28
"God the Sovereign
Giver of the Spiritual Gifts."
00:15:22.32\00:15:26.89
Amen. Okay.
00:15:26.92\00:15:28.26
Just in summary a bit.
00:15:28.29\00:15:29.69
What Shelley has
covered for us in Sunday
00:15:29.72\00:15:33.40
was contrasting the
fruits versus the gifts.
00:15:33.43\00:15:38.43
Two different emphases there,
same spirit but two emphases.
00:15:38.47\00:15:44.91
We've learned by looking
at 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
00:15:44.94\00:15:50.21
Yes.
00:15:50.25\00:15:51.58
We learned that really
all three of the Godhead
00:15:51.61\00:15:54.65
are involved in this
gift, gifts of the Spirit.
00:15:54.68\00:15:59.69
Because we had
the spirit in verse 4,
00:15:59.72\00:16:03.43
the Lord in verse 5,
00:16:03.46\00:16:05.79
and God, the Father
we're speaking in verse 6.
00:16:05.83\00:16:09.73
And there was an
interesting wordplay, Shelley,
00:16:09.76\00:16:12.47
about gifts,
ministries, and activities.
00:16:12.50\00:16:16.20
That's a neat poetic,
00:16:16.24\00:16:17.87
or the Hebrew way of
doing things I think, okay.
00:16:17.91\00:16:21.54
We learned it is
for the profit of all,
00:16:21.58\00:16:25.05
this is not for us
individually like pastor,
00:16:25.08\00:16:27.58
it's for the profit of all.
00:16:27.62\00:16:29.88
And then lastly the
point was in verse 11 that,
00:16:29.92\00:16:36.06
"But one in the same
Spirit works all these things,
00:16:36.09\00:16:39.29
distributing to each one
individually as He wills."
00:16:39.33\00:16:44.63
So this something that
is the will of the Spirit,
00:16:44.67\00:16:48.07
the will of God, to be doing.
00:16:48.10\00:16:50.11
I don't sit down and say,
00:16:50.14\00:16:52.01
"Oh, I think I'm gonna
have the gift of prophecy.
00:16:52.04\00:16:55.01
Lord, would you give me..."
00:16:55.04\00:16:56.61
No, the Lord
sits down, He decides.
00:16:56.64\00:16:59.31
Brian, I will give you,
you know, such and such.
00:16:59.35\00:17:04.12
Now, so He is the sovereign.
00:17:04.15\00:17:08.66
In the center part of our study,
00:17:08.69\00:17:13.33
the main point that
the author brings out
00:17:13.36\00:17:17.53
is contrasting a bit of,
well, let me just read it.
00:17:17.57\00:17:21.90
It's in the
paragraph that starts,
00:17:21.94\00:17:23.87
innate ability as
such is not spiritual gift.
00:17:23.91\00:17:30.31
I stopped and
thought about that a bit.
00:17:30.35\00:17:32.91
And I'm going to say
maybe at least I have thoughts
00:17:32.95\00:17:36.05
that differ with the author.
00:17:36.08\00:17:38.92
I hope I'm not
introducing heresy, okay.
00:17:38.95\00:17:42.06
Innate ability as such
is not a spiritual gifts.
00:17:42.09\00:17:45.53
Spiritual gifts are not
the same as natural talents.
00:17:45.56\00:17:51.83
Let me give you an example, say,
00:17:51.87\00:17:54.64
I have given my
heart to the Lord.
00:17:54.67\00:17:57.87
I have been baptized, I
joined the family of God.
00:17:57.91\00:18:03.18
Now, I don't have any
inherent abilities or talents
00:18:03.21\00:18:07.22
really for music, okay.
00:18:07.25\00:18:11.19
I am not good at rhythm.
00:18:11.22\00:18:13.22
I can hold a tune in a bucket,
00:18:13.25\00:18:15.29
but it can't go much
farther than that, all right.
00:18:15.32\00:18:18.53
So all of a sudden now
the Holy Spirit decides,
00:18:18.56\00:18:21.16
"Brian, I want to give
you the gift of music."
00:18:21.20\00:18:23.73
So now, I can sing like
Pastor Lomacang, Reggie,
00:18:23.77\00:18:28.50
I can play the
piano like Tim Parton.
00:18:28.54\00:18:31.07
You know,
because the Holy Spirit
00:18:31.11\00:18:33.34
is gonna give this to me
00:18:33.38\00:18:35.74
so that I can be a
blessing to his body.
00:18:35.78\00:18:39.41
Can that happen?
00:18:39.45\00:18:41.92
Yes, it can happen.
00:18:41.95\00:18:43.85
It is possible to happen.
00:18:43.89\00:18:46.05
I think of the early church.
00:18:46.09\00:18:47.86
There are, the apostles
spoke in different languages
00:18:47.89\00:18:51.56
that they didn't have
the ability to do beforehand,
00:18:51.59\00:18:55.43
and I would guess
they spoke it fluently.
00:18:55.46\00:18:58.67
But is that normally how
the Spirit acts or works?
00:18:58.70\00:19:05.04
In, in my thought it's more like
00:19:05.07\00:19:08.01
Brian had
certain innate abilities
00:19:08.04\00:19:12.31
and talents
00:19:12.35\00:19:14.38
and the Lord has
taken those innate abilities
00:19:14.42\00:19:17.25
and talents that
He created me with...
00:19:17.29\00:19:19.62
I was going to say,
God given talents he got.
00:19:19.65\00:19:22.46
He created me with them,
00:19:22.49\00:19:24.43
and now he gives those
to the church, as a gift.
00:19:24.46\00:19:30.77
He takes those innate talents
that he originally inherited,
00:19:30.80\00:19:35.40
he created me with, he
gives them to the church
00:19:35.44\00:19:39.04
and he multiplies them
00:19:39.07\00:19:40.41
and he adds to them
and he blesses them,
00:19:40.44\00:19:43.55
to me that's, that's more
00:19:43.58\00:19:46.98
in keeping with
how I see the practice
00:19:47.02\00:19:50.35
of the Spirit
giving the church gifts.
00:19:50.39\00:19:55.86
Every time he gives a new person
00:19:55.89\00:19:59.89
coming into the body
as a gift to the church,
00:19:59.93\00:20:03.77
that person brings in all
kinds of gifts in his train
00:20:03.80\00:20:08.00
that he
inherently was born with.
00:20:08.04\00:20:11.54
Now, if he uses
those gifts for himself,
00:20:11.57\00:20:16.14
then they're no
blessing to the church, in fact,
00:20:16.18\00:20:18.15
they often become a
curse to the church.
00:20:18.18\00:20:21.48
You know?
00:20:21.52\00:20:22.85
So, I'm just
suggesting forethought.
00:20:22.88\00:20:26.45
I'm not saying
this is absolute truth.
00:20:26.49\00:20:29.39
I'm suggesting forethought
00:20:29.42\00:20:31.36
that maybe the
lists of the gifts,
00:20:31.39\00:20:35.76
as you see in
scripture apostles, teachers,
00:20:35.80\00:20:38.10
you know, administrators,
00:20:38.13\00:20:40.37
along with the
myriad of other talents
00:20:40.40\00:20:43.64
that people have
when they come to the Lord
00:20:43.67\00:20:48.48
and they join the family of God,
00:20:48.51\00:20:51.55
those are gifts of
the spirit to the church.
00:20:51.58\00:20:55.75
And so there's a
wider body of gifts
00:20:55.78\00:20:59.29
more than just the
ones listed in scripture.
00:20:59.32\00:21:01.69
What do you think of that?
00:21:01.72\00:21:03.06
I'm just, I got
two minutes left so...
00:21:03.09\00:21:05.03
What, if you come
in, let's say that
00:21:05.06\00:21:06.90
you can play the
piano like Jill Morikone.
00:21:06.93\00:21:09.53
Okay.
00:21:09.56\00:21:10.90
And you've got pride in that,
00:21:10.93\00:21:12.27
you're such a good piano
player then can God use that?
00:21:12.30\00:21:16.00
But if you come
in with these gifts
00:21:16.04\00:21:17.91
and abilities and you
surrender them to God,
00:21:17.94\00:21:21.04
maybe what God,
00:21:21.08\00:21:22.41
the gifting God
has graced you with,
00:21:22.44\00:21:24.31
it says an
intercessor but you can never,
00:21:24.35\00:21:26.61
you don't even know
what an intercessor is,
00:21:26.65\00:21:28.92
but as you surrender your life,
00:21:28.95\00:21:30.59
and you surrender your talents,
00:21:30.62\00:21:32.12
you surrender
your abilities to God,
00:21:32.15\00:21:34.49
then God will draw you.
00:21:34.52\00:21:36.16
And it might be to
play the piano like Jill,
00:21:36.19\00:21:38.49
but it might be that
he's going to take you
00:21:38.53\00:21:40.30
in another direction as well.
00:21:40.33\00:21:43.03
And you know I'm
thinking too like when you
00:21:43.06\00:21:45.43
what he says here
in the lesson that
00:21:45.47\00:21:47.20
innate ability is
not a spiritual gift
00:21:47.24\00:21:50.71
if you develop that, you know,
00:21:50.74\00:21:52.07
just because something has been
developed by intense education.
00:21:52.11\00:21:55.14
What thought comes to my mind,
00:21:55.18\00:21:56.51
is there are people who
actually go through seminary
00:21:56.54\00:22:00.65
and have
studied, studied, studied,
00:22:00.68\00:22:02.08
and I have a
lady that used to come
00:22:02.12\00:22:03.59
when I was in Texas.
00:22:03.62\00:22:04.95
She had her ThD
00:22:04.99\00:22:07.06
and she knew a
lot about the Bible.
00:22:07.09\00:22:10.39
She did not know the Lord,
00:22:10.43\00:22:11.93
she thought she
was a good teacher,
00:22:11.96\00:22:13.60
drives Auburn,
drives the hills of Gilboa,
00:22:13.63\00:22:18.50
but the point that I'm saying
is that she never surrendered,
00:22:18.53\00:22:24.64
controlled and yielded
00:22:24.67\00:22:26.64
to the Lord to be
filled with the spirit so...
00:22:26.68\00:22:30.05
Then it wasn't really gift...
00:22:30.08\00:22:31.41
It wasn't really gift
but she had an innate ability
00:22:31.45\00:22:34.08
because she had studied
quite a lot so little, in a way.
00:22:34.12\00:22:39.25
In another point, the
Lord brought to my mind
00:22:39.29\00:22:41.82
even when the gift is
given, Philippians 2:13,
00:22:41.86\00:22:45.09
"For it is God who
works in you both to will
00:22:45.13\00:22:49.33
and to do of His good pleasure."
00:22:49.36\00:22:51.93
Only when you recognize
that this gift is given of God
00:22:51.97\00:22:56.07
and the gift is
controlled by God.
00:22:56.10\00:22:59.57
Can you
recognize that right now,
00:22:59.61\00:23:01.31
I'm just a vessel,
00:23:01.34\00:23:03.04
I'm just a vessel
that God is using.
00:23:03.08\00:23:05.28
I can't take any
credit on my own.
00:23:05.31\00:23:06.82
That's why he says in the very
next verse in Philippians 2:14,
00:23:06.85\00:23:10.72
"Do all things
without complaining
00:23:10.75\00:23:12.59
and with and disputing."
00:23:12.62\00:23:14.66
When you recognize it's not you,
00:23:14.69\00:23:16.26
why do you complain
how that gift is used
00:23:16.29\00:23:18.13
because God is the one using it.
00:23:18.16\00:23:19.59
Yeah.
00:23:19.63\00:23:20.96
So let me just summarize
in a few seconds I have left.
00:23:21.00\00:23:24.90
I think that the Bible
does list a number of gifts,
00:23:24.93\00:23:29.30
but I don't think
they're all the gifts, okay.
00:23:29.34\00:23:33.27
And certainly I think those
gifts even our innate talents
00:23:33.31\00:23:38.21
that we are born with
00:23:38.25\00:23:39.95
can be given as
gifts to his body.
00:23:39.98\00:23:42.58
That's the point
I think I'm making.
00:23:42.62\00:23:43.95
That's absolutely true.
00:23:43.99\00:23:45.32
Mollie, why don't you
take us on to Tuesday?
00:23:45.35\00:23:48.09
For the purpose of
the spiritual gifts.
00:23:48.12\00:23:51.23
Spiritual gifts
are certain capacities
00:23:51.26\00:23:54.80
given supernaturally by
God, through the Holy Spirit.
00:23:54.83\00:23:58.83
These gifts fit the person
for special type of service
00:23:58.87\00:24:03.74
that will build up the church.
00:24:03.77\00:24:05.24
Now what are the
gifts given to us for?
00:24:05.27\00:24:08.34
To build up the church.
00:24:08.38\00:24:09.71
To build up the church,
00:24:09.74\00:24:11.08
that's what we
have to keep in mind.
00:24:11.11\00:24:12.88
All the gifting that
God through the Holy Spirit
00:24:12.91\00:24:16.32
gives are to
build up the church.
00:24:16.35\00:24:18.15
Now I wanted to share this,
00:24:18.19\00:24:20.56
our Sabbath school
superintendent Irish Eger
00:24:20.59\00:24:24.59
few weeks, several weeks ago,
00:24:24.63\00:24:26.59
shared something with us
in just before Sabbath school,
00:24:26.63\00:24:31.17
she said, "A pastor was
talking to his congregation
00:24:31.20\00:24:35.44
and he told the congregation
every one of you have a gift."
00:24:35.47\00:24:39.44
Okay.
00:24:39.47\00:24:40.81
Everybody has a gift
and this little lady says,
00:24:40.84\00:24:43.81
"I don't have any gifts.
00:24:43.85\00:24:45.51
I can't sing
like Pastor Lomacang,
00:24:45.55\00:24:47.52
I can't play
the piano like Jill.
00:24:47.55\00:24:49.88
I can't teach like Shelley
and I don't know anything
00:24:49.92\00:24:53.36
about accounting like Brian."
00:24:53.39\00:24:56.76
"I can't, I
don't have any gifts."
00:24:56.79\00:24:59.19
And the pastor says,
"Everybody's got a gift,
00:24:59.23\00:25:01.96
if you don't know
what your gift is,
00:25:02.00\00:25:04.03
go home and pray about
it, the Lord will show you."
00:25:04.07\00:25:07.57
So she went home
a bit discouraged
00:25:07.60\00:25:09.94
and she said,
"Well, I'm going to pray."
00:25:09.97\00:25:12.64
And so she prayed
and she asked God,
00:25:12.67\00:25:14.84
"God, show me
what my gifting is."
00:25:14.88\00:25:17.05
And she really didn't think
that the Lord spoke to her,
00:25:17.08\00:25:20.12
but she kinda had an impression
to look in the phonebook
00:25:20.15\00:25:24.09
and so here is what she did.
00:25:24.12\00:25:26.55
She looked in the phone book,
00:25:26.59\00:25:28.26
at random she
picked out 100 names,
00:25:28.29\00:25:33.16
and she started
praying for those 100 people,
00:25:33.19\00:25:37.63
and she prayed for
two years, she prayed.
00:25:37.67\00:25:42.14
She was faithful to that,
00:25:42.17\00:25:43.51
remember one of the fruit
of the Spirit is faithfulness,
00:25:43.54\00:25:47.24
we looked at that.
00:25:47.28\00:25:49.71
She prayed for two
years now after two years,
00:25:49.74\00:25:53.18
I might be
getting a bit discouraged
00:25:53.21\00:25:54.88
not this lady, two years.
00:25:54.92\00:25:56.48
One Sabbath she was in church
and a lady was being baptized.
00:25:56.52\00:26:01.26
And she thought, boy,
that name is familiar.
00:26:01.29\00:26:04.16
She pulls out her list
and that name is on the list.
00:26:04.19\00:26:08.00
And she goes to her
pastor and says, pastor,
00:26:08.03\00:26:11.23
and she told about how this,
00:26:11.27\00:26:13.44
what you preached and
I went home and prayed,
00:26:13.47\00:26:15.94
and I made my
list of 100 people.
00:26:15.97\00:26:17.51
And the pastor said,
"Let me see that list."
00:26:17.54\00:26:20.48
And he looked at the list
and here's what he told her.
00:26:20.51\00:26:23.65
Let me read this,
"When he looked at the list,
00:26:23.68\00:26:28.32
he realized that
96 out of the 100
00:26:28.35\00:26:32.32
had been baptized
in the past two years."
00:26:32.35\00:26:34.66
Glory to God. We're
getting goose bumps.
00:26:34.69\00:26:36.76
Me too.
00:26:36.79\00:26:38.13
What I wanted to
encourage all of this with,
00:26:38.16\00:26:40.70
we're gonna look at
the purpose of the gifts,
00:26:40.73\00:26:42.46
again is to edify the
body of Christ it says
00:26:42.50\00:26:44.87
what is it for, but
every one of us are graced,
00:26:44.90\00:26:47.97
we are gifted,
00:26:48.00\00:26:49.34
we may not have the abilities
00:26:49.37\00:26:52.67
that we see around
us that are so easily
00:26:52.71\00:26:55.18
and readily identifiable
as the gift of the Spirit.
00:26:55.21\00:26:58.81
We can't preach
like, Pastor Lomacang,
00:26:58.85\00:27:01.25
I keep using you as an example,
00:27:01.28\00:27:03.18
but you're the
one in that pulpit.
00:27:03.22\00:27:05.75
So you're the
one that we can use,
00:27:05.79\00:27:07.12
but you are
graced and you're gifted.
00:27:07.16\00:27:09.52
So I want us to
now look at Romans,
00:27:09.56\00:27:12.66
we're going to look in Romans
the 12 Chapter at the gifts,
00:27:12.69\00:27:15.50
we're going to look in
Ephesians the 4 Chapter.
00:27:15.53\00:27:18.37
And again what
we're looking at is
00:27:18.40\00:27:21.07
the purpose of
the spiritual gifts.
00:27:21.10\00:27:23.94
Romans 12:3-8.
00:27:23.97\00:27:27.41
And I kinda identify these,
00:27:27.44\00:27:29.34
this might be my
personal identification,
00:27:29.38\00:27:32.75
is the grace gifts and
I'll explain to you why.
00:27:32.78\00:27:36.35
"For I say, through
the grace given to me,
00:27:36.38\00:27:38.59
to everyone who is among you,
00:27:38.62\00:27:40.92
not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think,
00:27:40.96\00:27:44.13
but to think soberly,
00:27:44.16\00:27:45.49
as God has dealt to
each one a measure of faith.
00:27:45.53\00:27:49.76
For as we have many
members in one body,
00:27:49.80\00:27:52.47
but all the members do
not have the same function,
00:27:52.50\00:27:55.24
so we have many,
00:27:55.27\00:27:57.51
so we being many
are one body in Christ,
00:27:57.54\00:28:00.04
and individually members of
one another having then gifts."
00:28:00.08\00:28:04.88
There we're talking about gifts,
00:28:04.91\00:28:06.85
"Having then gifts differing
according to the grace."
00:28:06.88\00:28:10.69
That's why I call
these the grace gifts.
00:28:10.72\00:28:13.36
"According to the
grace that is given to us,
00:28:13.39\00:28:16.32
let us use them and prophesying,
00:28:16.36\00:28:18.33
let us prophesy in the
proportion of our faith,
00:28:18.36\00:28:20.60
or ministry, let us
use it in our ministering,
00:28:20.63\00:28:23.37
he who teaches, in
teaching, he who exhorts,
00:28:23.40\00:28:25.63
in exhortation, he
who gives with liberality,
00:28:25.67\00:28:29.34
he who leads, with
diligence, he who shows mercy,
00:28:29.37\00:28:32.87
with cheerfulness."
00:28:32.91\00:28:34.24
So, these grace
gifts that are mentioned,
00:28:34.28\00:28:36.08
these gifts are all
acts that we do for others.
00:28:36.11\00:28:39.91
We always, the
purpose of the edifying,
00:28:39.95\00:28:42.82
the lifting, the building
up of the body of Christ,
00:28:42.85\00:28:45.62
they are things that we do
that minister and help others.
00:28:45.65\00:28:48.92
Now, let's look
at the Ephesians 4,
00:28:48.96\00:28:51.99
we're going to
look at verses 8-13.
00:28:52.03\00:28:54.80
And I identify these
as the ascension gifts
00:28:54.83\00:28:57.73
and I'll show
you why in a minute.
00:28:57.77\00:29:00.37
Ephesians 4:8-13,
00:29:00.40\00:29:03.87
"Therefore, he says,
00:29:03.91\00:29:06.04
when He ascended on
high, He led captivity captive,
00:29:06.07\00:29:10.05
and gave gifts to men."
00:29:10.08\00:29:11.71
Now this, "He ascended"
00:29:11.75\00:29:13.65
what does it mean but
that He also first descended
00:29:13.68\00:29:16.65
into the lower
parts of the earth?"
00:29:16.69\00:29:18.35
So who are we talking about?
00:29:18.39\00:29:19.95
Jesus Christ. The
Lord, Jesus Christ.
00:29:19.99\00:29:22.79
"He who
descended is also the One
00:29:22.82\00:29:25.16
who ascended far
above all the heavens,
00:29:25.19\00:29:28.03
that He might fill all things."
00:29:28.06\00:29:30.40
Now this is what
this scripture is saying
00:29:30.43\00:29:32.93
about the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:29:32.97\00:29:35.14
"And He himself
gave some to be apostles,
00:29:35.17\00:29:40.41
some prophets, some evangelists,
00:29:40.44\00:29:43.35
and some pastors, and teachers,
00:29:43.38\00:29:45.75
the one who ascended gave these
gifts the Lord Jesus Christ."
00:29:45.78\00:29:50.29
And here is the reason
that he gave them, Shelley,
00:29:50.32\00:29:53.29
"For the equipping of the saints
00:29:53.32\00:29:55.62
for the work of ministry,"
00:29:55.66\00:29:57.53
Now, Pastor Lomacang, you,
00:29:57.56\00:30:00.30
God graced you,
00:30:00.33\00:30:01.96
he gifted you with
this office of a pastor
00:30:02.00\00:30:06.87
not so that you can go
out and do all the work,
00:30:06.90\00:30:09.77
it's so that you
can equip the saints,
00:30:09.80\00:30:12.67
for the saints to go
out and do out there.
00:30:12.71\00:30:14.81
I don't know how many people
00:30:14.84\00:30:16.18
we have here in
the Thompsonville
00:30:16.21\00:30:17.55
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:30:17.58\00:30:19.25
200 or 300 people,
00:30:19.28\00:30:20.62
I would say
something around that,
00:30:20.65\00:30:22.12
200 or 300 people can accomplish
00:30:22.15\00:30:23.99
a whole lot more than
that one man in the pulpit.
00:30:24.02\00:30:26.25
Except we want that one
man in pulpit to do it all.
00:30:26.29\00:30:29.12
Do it all.
00:30:29.16\00:30:30.49
And that's the sad reality
00:30:30.53\00:30:31.86
because that's what
Jesus meant when He says,
00:30:31.89\00:30:33.26
"Greater works
than these will you do."
00:30:33.29\00:30:36.26
He was talking
about the exponential,
00:30:36.30\00:30:38.17
the coverage when He said,
00:30:38.20\00:30:40.00
"To go unto all the world,"
00:30:40.04\00:30:41.37
He said, "I'll give
you the power to do that,
00:30:41.40\00:30:42.74
I'll equip you
with the Holy Spirit,
00:30:42.77\00:30:44.11
and I'll give you the
gifts and the abilities,"
00:30:44.14\00:30:46.78
but I'm only, Jesus
never took a vehicle anywhere,
00:30:46.81\00:30:50.01
I mean, he never took
any major transportation,
00:30:50.05\00:30:53.75
they didn't really have
it then like cars and all,
00:30:53.78\00:30:55.92
everywhere He went
He practically walked.
00:30:55.95\00:30:58.19
So He remained in a
particular vicinity,
00:30:58.22\00:31:00.36
but He said, I'll
go to all the world,
00:31:00.39\00:31:01.72
that's what He
meant, go to all the world.
00:31:01.76\00:31:03.93
So, yes, we could do
much more collectively
00:31:03.96\00:31:06.06
than we can individually.
00:31:06.09\00:31:07.43
So this apostle,
prophets, evangelist,
00:31:07.46\00:31:10.03
pastor and teacher, now
what do I call that, Jill?
00:31:10.07\00:31:12.10
The five fold ministry.
The five fold ministry.
00:31:12.13\00:31:14.04
These aren't things
that you do the ministering,
00:31:14.07\00:31:18.67
these are offices,
00:31:18.71\00:31:20.24
and the Lord
Jesus Christ Himself,
00:31:20.28\00:31:22.18
you know, I could say, you know,
00:31:22.21\00:31:23.55
I think I want to be a teacher
00:31:23.58\00:31:25.11
or I think I
want to be an apostle.
00:31:25.15\00:31:27.62
The Lord Jesus Christ
makes those determinations.
00:31:27.65\00:31:30.29
And He places
that office on the man
00:31:30.32\00:31:32.85
and the purpose for it
again, I'll read it again,
00:31:32.89\00:31:35.02
for the equipment of the saints,
00:31:35.06\00:31:36.59
for the work of the ministry,
00:31:36.62\00:31:37.96
for the edifying
of the body of Christ,
00:31:37.99\00:31:41.00
till we all come into
the unity of the faith.
00:31:41.03\00:31:43.30
And I wanted to share that
00:31:43.33\00:31:44.93
till we all come into the
unity of the faith that until,
00:31:44.97\00:31:47.17
that's a time space word, until.
00:31:47.20\00:31:50.27
So here's my question,
00:31:50.31\00:31:51.74
have we come into
the unity of the faith?
00:31:51.77\00:31:54.84
Brian, is the church in unity?
00:31:54.88\00:31:56.91
Not always, no Not at all.
00:31:56.95\00:31:59.18
So are these gifts
still given to the church
00:31:59.21\00:32:01.68
is the apostle,
prophets, evangelist,
00:32:01.72\00:32:03.18
pastor and teacher
still at work in the church.
00:32:03.22\00:32:05.35
Of course, they are because
00:32:05.39\00:32:06.99
we haven't
accomplished all that he says,
00:32:07.02\00:32:09.52
that we are going to accomplish
00:32:09.56\00:32:11.36
and I wanted to say this,
00:32:11.39\00:32:12.76
I think we've
touched on this before.
00:32:12.79\00:32:14.80
We must remember that
all the gifts and gracings
00:32:14.83\00:32:17.67
that God blesses us
with is not self-centered,
00:32:17.70\00:32:21.50
it is Christ-centered,
it's for the edifying
00:32:21.54\00:32:24.47
and the building up
of the body of Christ.
00:32:24.51\00:32:26.81
If ever we start looking
at it like God has graced you
00:32:26.84\00:32:31.71
or you're gifted to
sing, to play the piano,
00:32:31.75\00:32:34.45
whatever that
grace gifting may be,
00:32:34.48\00:32:37.15
if that kind of
goes to your head.
00:32:37.19\00:32:39.19
Oh, God, by the
power of his Holy Spirit
00:32:39.22\00:32:41.49
has the ability to let
that air out of your head.
00:32:41.52\00:32:45.93
I must say, I like that.
00:32:45.96\00:32:48.53
And, and, Brian,
00:32:48.56\00:32:50.50
again it's I think the
crux and the bottom line
00:32:50.53\00:32:54.80
of the grace and
the giftings of God
00:32:54.84\00:32:56.77
is that you're surrendered.
00:32:56.81\00:32:58.14
Shelley, you teach
on surrender so much.
00:32:58.17\00:33:00.41
If you're
surrendered and give it to,
00:33:00.44\00:33:02.54
there is no end of what
God can accomplish through
00:33:02.58\00:33:05.51
any servant of His that is
surrendered into His hands.
00:33:05.55\00:33:09.25
And let me
encourage you also pray,
00:33:09.28\00:33:11.65
if you don't know
what your grace gifting is,
00:33:11.69\00:33:13.46
if you because God
has a work for you to do
00:33:13.49\00:33:16.96
that only you can do.
00:33:16.99\00:33:18.69
I can't do it, Jill can't do it.
00:33:18.73\00:33:20.53
Only you can do it.
00:33:20.56\00:33:21.90
Pray and ask God
and He will show you.
00:33:21.93\00:33:23.53
That's right.
00:33:23.57\00:33:24.90
And I just, you know, you
made me think of something.
00:33:24.93\00:33:26.60
I think we all
need to be careful
00:33:26.63\00:33:28.80
how we compliment someone.
00:33:28.84\00:33:31.31
If your pastor gives
an exceptionally good,
00:33:31.34\00:33:35.18
has an
exceptionally good sermon,
00:33:35.21\00:33:37.31
be careful and don't go and say,
00:33:37.35\00:33:39.25
"Oh, that was the
best sermon you did."
00:33:39.28\00:33:44.05
If it was led by the Spirit
what you should be say is,
00:33:44.09\00:33:47.39
"Glory to God for
the sermon, he gave you."
00:33:47.42\00:33:50.23
Because I think that
the tripwire of the devil
00:33:50.26\00:33:54.10
for across the board
is to get us into pride,
00:33:54.13\00:33:58.63
and if he could get us
to feeling a little like
00:33:58.67\00:34:01.60
we're wanted and
we're puffed up a little bit
00:34:01.64\00:34:04.27
about you know,
00:34:04.31\00:34:05.64
"Oh, boy, I did, that was good."
00:34:05.67\00:34:07.81
Then that's when God
can't use you anymore
00:34:07.84\00:34:10.68
because that is absolutely
antithetical to humility.
00:34:10.71\00:34:14.98
You go out of being led by
the Spirit to in the flesh.
00:34:15.02\00:34:18.49
Yes. That's right.
00:34:18.52\00:34:20.12
Yes. Jill?
00:34:20.16\00:34:21.62
On Wednesday, we look
at, "The Gift Then and Now."
00:34:21.66\00:34:24.49
And really the
purpose of Wednesday's lesson
00:34:24.53\00:34:26.29
is do the spiritual
gifts still exist today.
00:34:26.33\00:34:29.46
Are they still in existence?
00:34:29.50\00:34:30.83
Some people say, "They
were given for the early church
00:34:30.87\00:34:33.74
for the early believers"
00:34:33.77\00:34:35.10
and then maybe not so much
now, we're at the end of time.
00:34:35.14\00:34:37.67
So that's what we're looking at.
00:34:37.71\00:34:39.21
But before we jump into that
00:34:39.24\00:34:40.81
and we'll have a
couple of scriptures,
00:34:40.84\00:34:42.18
we'll look at that.
00:34:42.21\00:34:43.55
I want to go to
another scripture
00:34:43.58\00:34:44.91
which was actually
not in Wednesday's lesson.
00:34:44.95\00:34:46.61
We're going back to Isaiah.
00:34:46.65\00:34:48.68
If you want to turn
there with me Isaiah Chapter 6,
00:34:48.72\00:34:51.99
I love what each one
of you have been sharing
00:34:52.02\00:34:54.69
because talking about
the purpose of the gifts
00:34:54.72\00:34:56.79
and what the gifts
are in the meaning,
00:34:56.83\00:34:58.29
but I think that prior to
receiving the spiritual gifts
00:34:58.33\00:35:03.20
for the edification of
the church for the unity
00:35:03.23\00:35:06.10
and I agree with you, Brian.
00:35:06.13\00:35:07.47
Sometimes God
gives a natural talent.
00:35:07.50\00:35:10.87
It's inborn and then
God wants to develop that
00:35:10.91\00:35:13.88
into a spiritual gift.
00:35:13.91\00:35:15.24
I agree with that.
00:35:15.28\00:35:16.68
But prior to that I think
00:35:16.71\00:35:18.25
we all have to go
through a certain process,
00:35:18.28\00:35:21.12
a certain experience in order
to effectively use the gifts,
00:35:21.15\00:35:26.42
in order to effectively minister
00:35:26.45\00:35:28.62
and I'm thinking of
the calling of Isaiah.
00:35:28.66\00:35:30.69
I just wanted to
look at that briefly,
00:35:30.73\00:35:32.39
Isaiah Chapter 6.
00:35:32.43\00:35:35.90
Now, Isaiah had
been in ministry prior
00:35:35.93\00:35:38.37
to the calling
in Isaiah Chapter 6.
00:35:38.40\00:35:40.04
So it's not like all
of a sudden God gave this
00:35:40.07\00:35:43.91
and Isaiah 6, and the
vision, and all of that,
00:35:43.94\00:35:46.31
and then all of a
sudden Isaiah said,
00:35:46.34\00:35:48.21
"Okay, now I'm
stepping out of ministry."
00:35:48.24\00:35:49.94
He was already serving
God, he was already in ministry,
00:35:49.98\00:35:53.15
but this to me is
a special anointing
00:35:53.18\00:35:56.05
and calling from God.
00:35:56.08\00:35:57.59
And what I see take
place here in Isaiah,
00:35:57.62\00:36:00.39
I think God wants you
and I would experience.
00:36:00.42\00:36:02.86
Each one of us to experience
in order to effectively
00:36:02.89\00:36:05.89
build up the ministry
in the body of Christ.
00:36:05.93\00:36:08.60
Verse 1, it says,
he had the vision,
00:36:08.63\00:36:11.30
we know that vision,
00:36:11.33\00:36:12.67
"I saw the Lord
sitting on a throne,
00:36:12.70\00:36:14.34
high and lifted up,
00:36:14.37\00:36:15.70
and his train
filled the temple."
00:36:15.74\00:36:17.54
I think the first principle
as Isaiah saw a picture of
00:36:17.57\00:36:19.71
who God truly is.
00:36:19.74\00:36:21.08
Yes.
00:36:21.11\00:36:22.44
So before we can
utilize the spiritual gifts
00:36:22.48\00:36:24.58
and before we
step out into ministry,
00:36:24.61\00:36:26.95
we have to have a
sense of who God really is.
00:36:26.98\00:36:30.55
The second thing, in
contrast to who God is,
00:36:30.59\00:36:33.12
Isaiah realized who he was.
00:36:33.15\00:36:35.16
We see that in
verse 5, "So I said:
00:36:35.19\00:36:37.23
"Woe is me, I am undone!
00:36:37.26\00:36:40.10
I am a man of unclean lips.
00:36:40.13\00:36:42.10
I dwell in the midst of
a people of unclean lips.
00:36:42.13\00:36:44.57
My eyes have seen the
King, The Lord of hosts."
00:36:44.60\00:36:47.34
Anytime we begin
to think, I got this,
00:36:47.37\00:36:51.74
I got this spiritual gift.
00:36:51.77\00:36:53.58
I got this work in ministry,
00:36:53.61\00:36:56.24
and I think each one of us here
00:36:56.28\00:36:58.01
at this table serve in ministry.
00:36:58.05\00:36:59.81
I know many of you at
home serve in ministry.
00:36:59.85\00:37:02.38
And I think there's a danger
when you serve in ministry.
00:37:02.42\00:37:05.59
Yes.
00:37:05.62\00:37:06.96
"I have this gift,"
people say "God has given me",
00:37:06.99\00:37:09.62
and so it's always from God
00:37:09.66\00:37:14.40
and we have to look at that
00:37:14.43\00:37:16.13
in the sense of who God
is high and lifted up, Holy.
00:37:16.16\00:37:22.04
And then who am I?
00:37:22.07\00:37:23.64
I am but dust, I am nothing,
00:37:23.67\00:37:28.01
I am unclean,
00:37:28.04\00:37:30.05
Isaiah repented
and confessed his sin,
00:37:30.08\00:37:32.08
I am unclean,
00:37:32.11\00:37:33.45
I'm in the midst
of an unclean people.
00:37:33.48\00:37:35.42
And then the seraphim verse 6,
00:37:35.45\00:37:37.62
"Flew to him, having
in his hand a live coal
00:37:37.65\00:37:40.59
which he took from
the tongs of the altar.
00:37:40.62\00:37:42.96
And he touched
his mouth and said,
00:37:42.99\00:37:44.63
"This has touched your lips,
your iniquity is taken away,
00:37:44.66\00:37:47.30
your sin is purged."
00:37:47.33\00:37:48.76
And then he heard the
voice of the Lord saying,
00:37:48.80\00:37:51.00
"Whom shall I send,
and who will go for us?"
00:37:51.03\00:37:53.70
Then I said,
"Here am I! Send me."
00:37:53.74\00:37:55.37
So I think before any
equipping with a gifts,
00:37:55.40\00:37:58.14
before any work has to be
done at any time in the church,
00:37:58.17\00:38:03.01
we need to sit
before the feet of Jesus.
00:38:03.04\00:38:04.61
Yes.
00:38:04.65\00:38:05.98
Spend time in His word,
00:38:06.01\00:38:07.58
asked to be
emptied of ourselves,
00:38:07.62\00:38:09.58
asked to be cleansed
and forgiven and covered
00:38:09.62\00:38:12.82
and then God
says, "You're ready.
00:38:12.85\00:38:15.86
I can use you."
00:38:15.89\00:38:17.23
And I don't
think this is, I know,
00:38:17.26\00:38:18.86
an Isaiah
situation it's a one time,
00:38:18.89\00:38:20.53
but I think it's a daily
sitting at the feet of Jesus--
00:38:20.56\00:38:23.57
Sometimes hour by hour.
00:38:23.60\00:38:24.93
Yes, looking and new
to him and being filled.
00:38:24.97\00:38:27.17
So Wednesday's lessons
00:38:27.20\00:38:28.54
we're looking at
the gift then and now.
00:38:28.57\00:38:30.47
And the three
scriptures particularly
00:38:30.51\00:38:32.91
we want to look at,
let's go to 1 Corinthians 1.
00:38:32.94\00:38:35.64
We're looking at
does the spiritual gifts
00:38:35.68\00:38:37.98
still exist in the church today?
00:38:38.01\00:38:41.22
Do they still
exist in the church?
00:38:41.25\00:38:42.92
And you all
have done a great job
00:38:42.95\00:38:44.72
of discussing
the spiritual gifts.
00:38:44.75\00:38:46.52
I think 1 Corinthians 12
00:38:46.55\00:38:48.32
we talk about
the word of wisdom,
00:38:48.36\00:38:50.53
the gift of that wisdom
internally and sharing it.
00:38:50.56\00:38:54.03
We have the word of knowledge,
00:38:54.06\00:38:55.96
the gift of clear explanation.
00:38:56.00\00:38:58.47
We have the gift of faith.
00:38:58.50\00:39:00.00
I think Brother Danny
Shelton has a gift of faith
00:39:00.04\00:39:03.07
like no person I have ever met.
00:39:03.10\00:39:05.74
It's not, everyone is
giving a mustard seed of faith,
00:39:05.77\00:39:08.18
a small measure of
faith, but in a special sense,
00:39:08.21\00:39:11.78
God has gifted him
with the gift of faith.
00:39:11.81\00:39:14.28
We have the gift of
healing, supernatural.
00:39:14.32\00:39:17.49
We have the gift of
miracles, the gift of prophecy,
00:39:17.52\00:39:21.02
that's mentioned
in 1 Corinthians 12,
00:39:21.06\00:39:22.92
in Ephesians 4 and
Romans 12, all three books,
00:39:22.96\00:39:27.00
it's mentioned
the gift of prophecy.
00:39:27.03\00:39:28.76
We have the gift of
discernment and I know,
00:39:28.80\00:39:30.23
Pastor John, you're
going to talk about that,
00:39:30.27\00:39:32.20
the gift of tongues,
both speaking other languages
00:39:32.23\00:39:35.07
and the
interpretation or the hearing.
00:39:35.10\00:39:37.47
God gives us ears
to hear the tongues.
00:39:37.51\00:39:40.48
And the gift of
apostles, the gift of helps,
00:39:40.51\00:39:43.11
administration,
leadership, evangelist, pastors,
00:39:43.14\00:39:47.08
ministry, exportation,
00:39:47.12\00:39:48.88
the gift of financially blessing
00:39:48.92\00:39:51.29
and giving to other
people, the gift of mercy.
00:39:51.32\00:39:53.92
Those gifts are mentioned,
00:39:53.96\00:39:55.29
but as you
mentioned I think it was you,
00:39:55.32\00:39:56.66
Brian, there's more than one,
00:39:56.69\00:39:58.63
there is more than just
listed here or you, Mollie,
00:39:58.66\00:40:01.06
there's many gifts
that are mentioned.
00:40:01.10\00:40:03.33
So we're in 1 Corinthians 1.
00:40:03.37\00:40:05.20
Let's look at verse 6-8.
00:40:05.23\00:40:06.63
Someone want to read that,
00:40:06.67\00:40:09.07
1 Corinthians 1:6-8?
00:40:09.10\00:40:11.74
"Even as the testimony of Christ
00:40:11.77\00:40:13.78
was confirmed in you,
00:40:13.81\00:40:15.28
so that you come
short in no gift,
00:40:15.31\00:40:18.01
eagerly waiting
for the revelation
00:40:18.05\00:40:20.25
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:40:20.28\00:40:21.98
who will also
confirm you to the end,
00:40:22.02\00:40:25.79
that you may be blameless
00:40:25.82\00:40:27.56
in the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ."
00:40:27.59\00:40:29.86
So we're talking about
the revelation of our Lord.
00:40:29.89\00:40:32.19
We're talking about
the second coming, right?
00:40:32.23\00:40:35.43
We're talking about
when Jesus comes again
00:40:35.46\00:40:37.37
and He's saying,
don't fall short in any gift
00:40:37.40\00:40:40.80
as you look for the
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:40:40.84\00:40:43.47
So if we're at the end time
00:40:43.51\00:40:45.21
waiting for the
coming of Jesus Christ,
00:40:45.24\00:40:47.24
and Paul says,
00:40:47.28\00:40:48.61
"Don't fall short
in any spiritual gifts"
00:40:48.64\00:40:49.98
then that tells you what?
00:40:50.01\00:40:51.35
Yeah.
00:40:51.38\00:40:52.71
We're going to have spiritual
gifts at the end of time
00:40:52.75\00:40:55.32
for the edification
and unity of the church
00:40:55.35\00:40:57.29
at the end of time,
the gifts will be manifest.
00:40:57.32\00:40:59.52
When you think about
it, it's even more necessary
00:40:59.55\00:41:02.82
at the end of time
00:41:02.86\00:41:04.56
than it would be in
any other time, it was,
00:41:04.59\00:41:08.20
to be able to bring the
harvest in if you have those.
00:41:08.23\00:41:10.07
Yes.
00:41:10.10\00:41:11.43
The gospel has to
be preached. Go ahead.
00:41:11.47\00:41:12.97
You know, could I add this,
00:41:13.00\00:41:14.34
I think it says
necessary at the end of time
00:41:14.37\00:41:16.10
as it was in the very beginning
00:41:16.14\00:41:17.47
because in the
beginning, the Christians,
00:41:17.51\00:41:19.27
the church there
were many educated people,
00:41:19.31\00:41:22.28
Bibles weren't very available
00:41:22.31\00:41:24.75
so they didn't have
people to as Paul's going around
00:41:24.78\00:41:28.22
planting churches
00:41:28.25\00:41:29.58
and they're all going
around among these gentiles,
00:41:29.62\00:41:31.45
these people
didn't know that much
00:41:31.49\00:41:33.25
the gifting was
poured out abundantly.
00:41:33.29\00:41:36.12
Yes.
00:41:36.16\00:41:37.49
You know, in
the early, but again
00:41:37.53\00:41:39.09
which you just
said is absolutely,
00:41:39.13\00:41:41.53
we've always needed them
00:41:41.56\00:41:42.90
and we're going to need
them to a greater degree.
00:41:42.93\00:41:44.53
And you think
about the early rain,
00:41:44.57\00:41:45.90
the plowing of our
hearts, preparation for
00:41:45.93\00:41:48.44
I think in the
special sense the latter rain.
00:41:48.47\00:41:50.91
I believe will
include a special outpouring
00:41:50.94\00:41:53.24
of the spiritual
gifts at the last day
00:41:53.27\00:41:54.88
of course, the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit filling us
00:41:54.91\00:41:57.38
but outpouring
of spiritual gifts.
00:41:57.41\00:41:59.15
And the other verse I
want to look at is Ephesians 4
00:41:59.18\00:42:01.75
and you read this, Mollie.
00:42:01.78\00:42:03.79
Ephesians 4, we'll
look at verse 11-13.
00:42:03.82\00:42:08.42
Now, you already talked
about the five fold ministry,
00:42:08.46\00:42:10.56
the prophet,
apostles, prophets, evangelists,
00:42:10.59\00:42:12.76
pastors, and teachers.
00:42:12.79\00:42:14.16
And the purpose
of the gifts you,
00:42:14.20\00:42:15.53
you touched on that,
00:42:15.56\00:42:16.90
the equipping of the
saints, the work of ministry,
00:42:16.93\00:42:18.63
the edifying of
the body of Christ.
00:42:18.67\00:42:20.47
But the verse I
wanna look at is 13.
00:42:20.50\00:42:22.50
"Till we all come to
the unity of the faith
00:42:22.54\00:42:25.64
and of the
knowledge of the Son of God,
00:42:25.67\00:42:27.28
to a perfect man,
00:42:27.31\00:42:28.78
to the measure the stature
of the fullness of Christ."
00:42:28.81\00:42:31.15
You know what that tells me?
00:42:31.18\00:42:32.51
Not only are the spiritual gifts
00:42:32.55\00:42:34.15
poured out for
us at a special way,
00:42:34.18\00:42:36.55
before the end
of time, you know,
00:42:36.58\00:42:37.92
for the edifying of the
work the body of Christ.
00:42:37.95\00:42:40.46
But in a special way there's,
00:42:40.49\00:42:41.82
I think, it's for us to grow up.
00:42:41.86\00:42:44.69
Do you see that? Amen.
00:42:44.73\00:42:46.06
"To a perfect man
00:42:46.09\00:42:47.43
to the measure of
the stature of Christ."
00:42:47.46\00:42:48.80
So then the gifts
have something to do,
00:42:48.83\00:42:51.23
and I don't even
fully understand this
00:42:51.27\00:42:52.93
just being honest
with you as a panel,
00:42:52.97\00:42:54.70
but they must have
something to do with me
00:42:54.74\00:42:56.81
growing up into
the fullness of Christ,
00:42:56.84\00:43:00.18
into the measure of
the stature of Christ.
00:43:00.21\00:43:02.61
Well, part of the work
of the church is to nurture.
00:43:02.64\00:43:05.95
Yes.
00:43:05.98\00:43:07.32
That's one of
the main functions.
00:43:07.35\00:43:08.72
I mean it's
evangelism, it's worship,
00:43:08.75\00:43:11.29
but it's also nurture
and nurture is growing people
00:43:11.32\00:43:15.66
but it takes the
Spirit to grow up people.
00:43:15.69\00:43:17.59
Yes.
00:43:17.63\00:43:18.96
And so I believe the Holy Spirit
00:43:18.99\00:43:22.03
uses the
leadership of the church
00:43:22.06\00:43:24.90
to nurture its people.
00:43:24.93\00:43:26.27
So they grow up
to the full stature.
00:43:26.30\00:43:28.07
Well said. It's good.
00:43:28.10\00:43:29.87
Amen. Very good.
00:43:29.90\00:43:31.87
Pastor John?
00:43:31.91\00:43:33.24
Well, discerning of spirits,
00:43:33.27\00:43:35.01
one of the things that
came out to me very carefully
00:43:35.04\00:43:37.38
when I talked about this
00:43:37.41\00:43:39.18
was the, was the very prayer
00:43:39.21\00:43:41.48
that David prayed
in 1 Kings 3:7 he said,
00:43:41.52\00:43:45.22
"Now, O Lord my God,
00:43:45.25\00:43:48.06
you have made
your servant king,"
00:43:48.09\00:43:51.46
I mean, not David but, yeah,
00:43:51.49\00:43:54.16
you made your servant...
00:43:54.20\00:43:55.53
Your where 1 Kings? 1 Kings 3:7.
00:43:55.56\00:43:57.33
All right.
00:43:57.37\00:43:58.70
"Now, O Lord my God,
00:43:58.73\00:44:01.04
you have made your servant king
00:44:01.07\00:44:04.01
instead of my father, David."
00:44:04.04\00:44:06.88
But notice the
discernment where he was asking,
00:44:06.91\00:44:09.78
"But I am a little child,
00:44:09.81\00:44:12.35
I do not know how to
go out or to come in."
00:44:12.38\00:44:16.12
And what I want to
emphasize as far as discernment,
00:44:16.15\00:44:18.12
one of the first things we need
00:44:18.15\00:44:19.49
as far as
discernment is concerned
00:44:19.52\00:44:21.19
is the wisdom to
know how to move in God.
00:44:21.22\00:44:23.56
It's good.
00:44:23.59\00:44:24.93
Lot of times we are
gifted, we talked about gifts
00:44:24.96\00:44:27.30
and spiritual
gifts and abilities.
00:44:27.33\00:44:30.43
But to be an effective
administrator, a pastor,
00:44:30.47\00:44:33.67
a teacher, an
evangelist, the gift of helps,
00:44:33.70\00:44:36.17
the gift of healings,
00:44:36.20\00:44:37.54
the gift of interpreting tongue.
00:44:37.57\00:44:39.31
The first thing I think we
need the most to say, Lord,
00:44:39.34\00:44:42.34
I don't even know what
to do with these things.
00:44:42.38\00:44:44.55
I don't know how to go out.
00:44:44.58\00:44:46.31
I don't know how to come in."
00:44:46.35\00:44:48.38
And so if we say
because the Bible says,
00:44:48.42\00:44:50.05
"The steps of a righteous
man are ordered by the Lord."
00:44:50.09\00:44:53.89
We have to ask
God to first guide us
00:44:53.92\00:44:55.82
what do we do with
this and sometimes,
00:44:55.86\00:44:58.09
you know, I think
of Uzziah became king
00:44:58.13\00:45:00.13
when he was 16 years old.
00:45:00.16\00:45:02.03
How many of us would
put any of our departments
00:45:02.06\00:45:03.93
in the 16 years old
hands, come on, Mollie?
00:45:03.97\00:45:06.74
If a 16 years old came and said,
00:45:06.77\00:45:08.10
I like to be in
charge of production.
00:45:08.14\00:45:09.84
You say, "Did
God tell you that?"
00:45:09.87\00:45:12.74
He's not telling me that.
00:45:12.77\00:45:14.74
We wouldn't do it,
but what we're seeing is
00:45:14.78\00:45:17.48
when God gives the
gift, it is not age-preventive
00:45:17.51\00:45:24.19
because it's led by the wisdom
00:45:24.22\00:45:25.59
and the direction of
God's Spirit, this discernment.
00:45:25.62\00:45:28.86
But the biggest
portion of this...
00:45:28.89\00:45:30.99
the other thing I bring out is,
00:45:31.03\00:45:32.39
is when you look at the failure
in the crucifixion of Jesus.
00:45:32.43\00:45:36.77
The failure?
00:45:36.80\00:45:38.13
The failure following, the
failure in the crucifixion,
00:45:38.17\00:45:40.47
I know you...
00:45:40.50\00:45:41.84
No, the failure
in the crucifixion.
00:45:41.87\00:45:44.01
Jesus' head didn't
fail him, his body did.
00:45:44.04\00:45:48.54
His body gave way
00:45:48.58\00:45:50.11
to the punishment
of the crucifixion,
00:45:50.15\00:45:52.35
his body is what He sacrificed.
00:45:52.38\00:45:55.05
He didn't sacrificed His head,
00:45:55.08\00:45:56.99
and when Paul says,
00:45:57.02\00:45:58.35
"Christ is the
head of the church."
00:45:58.39\00:46:00.66
Discernment is all right
here, you think, you hear,
00:46:00.69\00:46:04.39
you speak, you listen,
00:46:04.43\00:46:06.09
all these are the
discerning gavenues.
00:46:06.13\00:46:08.73
You don't discern in your hands,
00:46:08.76\00:46:10.33
your mind discerns
what your hands must do.
00:46:10.37\00:46:12.70
Your eyes discern
where your feet must go.
00:46:12.73\00:46:15.47
So when Christ is
the head of the church
00:46:15.50\00:46:17.04
all the discerning gifts are His
00:46:17.07\00:46:19.77
and He imparts those to us.
00:46:19.81\00:46:21.74
So when we talk
about discernment,
00:46:21.78\00:46:24.01
it's so vitally important.
00:46:24.05\00:46:25.85
One of the things I
wanna also bring out is that,
00:46:25.88\00:46:27.95
discernment is needed today.
00:46:27.98\00:46:29.32
Discernment never
leads to disunity.
00:46:29.35\00:46:32.49
Discernment never
leads to disunity,
00:46:32.52\00:46:34.76
it always leads to unity.
00:46:34.79\00:46:36.42
And one of the reasons why
00:46:36.46\00:46:38.23
discernment is
so vitally important
00:46:38.26\00:46:39.59
is because we are living
in a different day and age.
00:46:39.63\00:46:41.73
The Bible says, "The devil has
come down having great wrath."
00:46:41.76\00:46:45.07
Because he knows
he has a short time.
00:46:45.10\00:46:47.44
Why do we need discernment?
00:46:47.47\00:46:49.24
Matthew 16:3.
00:46:49.27\00:46:53.78
And I'm going to
read this is how it says,
00:46:53.81\00:46:56.11
"It will be foul weather today,
00:46:56.14\00:46:58.51
and in the morning it
will be foul weather today,
00:46:58.55\00:47:02.08
for the sky is
red and threatening."
00:47:02.12\00:47:04.29
But Jesus says, "Hypocrites!
00:47:04.32\00:47:06.29
You know how to
discern the face of the sky,
00:47:06.32\00:47:10.83
but you cannot discern
the signs of the times."
00:47:10.86\00:47:14.96
We've got people that
can tell you the weather,
00:47:15.00\00:47:16.80
the position of the
sun in five more months,
00:47:16.83\00:47:18.90
the position of the stars
00:47:18.93\00:47:20.54
but they can't see
the position of our world.
00:47:20.57\00:47:22.34
Yeah.
00:47:22.37\00:47:23.71
And so what we need
more than anything else,
00:47:23.74\00:47:25.41
and this is the work
of the Spirit of God also,
00:47:25.44\00:47:27.64
is to have men and women
00:47:27.68\00:47:29.81
who understand the times
that we should know what to do.
00:47:29.84\00:47:33.88
So, yes, we're
discerning all the gifts,
00:47:33.92\00:47:35.58
but I want to put this
00:47:35.62\00:47:36.95
in a completely
different package.
00:47:36.99\00:47:38.39
We need discernment of
the urgency of the hour.
00:47:38.42\00:47:42.72
Discernment of
the responsibilities
00:47:42.76\00:47:45.53
placed on us,
00:47:45.56\00:47:47.00
not just what responsibility,
00:47:47.03\00:47:49.13
but how grave and how important
00:47:49.16\00:47:52.00
and the voracity
of our dedication
00:47:52.03\00:47:54.24
to this responsibility.
00:47:54.27\00:47:55.70
So if I get, if the
Lord gives you a gift,
00:47:55.74\00:47:57.61
if the Lord says,
"Brian, you're the coach."
00:47:57.64\00:47:59.64
No team.
00:47:59.67\00:48:01.01
No city is going to
pay you millions of dollars
00:48:01.04\00:48:03.08
for your team to keep losing.
00:48:03.11\00:48:05.28
So you take it seriously
00:48:05.31\00:48:06.65
because you recognize
your position is on the line
00:48:06.68\00:48:08.62
in the very same way
00:48:08.65\00:48:10.12
and I've had a readjustment
as I've walked into 2017,
00:48:10.15\00:48:13.92
the Lord has said, "John,
okay this has been 30 years,
00:48:13.96\00:48:16.66
we've been, we've
been working together,
00:48:16.69\00:48:18.53
but I want you to
go to another level."
00:48:18.56\00:48:20.26
And I said, "Lord, I
can't go to another level
00:48:20.30\00:48:22.13
lest you get me there."
00:48:22.16\00:48:23.50
Yes.
00:48:23.53\00:48:24.87
Not for my glory, but for His.
00:48:24.90\00:48:26.23
So give me the
wisdom to discern the times.
00:48:26.27\00:48:28.77
The other thing
about discernment is,
00:48:28.80\00:48:30.71
discernment of the
importance of the word of God.
00:48:30.74\00:48:33.31
You know, we talk about
all the other gifts, miracles,
00:48:33.34\00:48:36.01
healings, all the other
gifts that we talked about,
00:48:36.04\00:48:38.91
and so many people
put emphasis on that.
00:48:38.95\00:48:41.28
We talk about the gift of music,
00:48:41.32\00:48:43.08
but the Lord when he was
in the moment of temptation,
00:48:43.12\00:48:45.15
he didn't sing to the devil.
00:48:45.19\00:48:46.52
That's right. He
said, it is written.
00:48:46.55\00:48:48.42
Now, here's my point.
00:48:48.46\00:48:49.79
Music is a great
part of Christianity,
00:48:49.82\00:48:52.29
but if we think that
music is the instrument
00:48:52.33\00:48:54.16
by which we're
gonna become righteous,
00:48:54.20\00:48:55.53
we are mistaken.
00:48:55.56\00:48:56.90
That's right.
00:48:56.93\00:48:58.27
Jesus honors above
music He honors His word.
00:48:58.30\00:49:00.57
Matter of fact, He
honors His word above His name.
00:49:00.60\00:49:02.40
That's right.
00:49:02.44\00:49:04.01
And in the moments of
temptation even one-to-one
00:49:04.04\00:49:07.38
Christ against the
antichrist, Satan himself,
00:49:07.41\00:49:11.08
he said over it is written,
it is written, it is written.
00:49:11.11\00:49:13.75
Here's my point.
00:49:13.78\00:49:15.22
We've got to
discern the importance
00:49:15.25\00:49:16.62
of the word of God in our lives,
00:49:16.65\00:49:18.75
not just the
operation of the gifts.
00:49:18.79\00:49:20.96
If the word of God is
not planted in our lives,
00:49:20.99\00:49:23.43
we cannot discern error
00:49:23.46\00:49:25.63
because error is
only distinguished
00:49:25.66\00:49:27.33
by an
understanding of the truth.
00:49:27.36\00:49:29.50
We've got to be
able to understand.
00:49:29.53\00:49:31.50
And here's a point I made.
00:49:31.53\00:49:32.90
We cannot recognize error
00:49:32.93\00:49:36.57
if we don't
acknowledge and embrace truth.
00:49:36.60\00:49:39.11
That's right.
00:49:39.14\00:49:40.48
And what's going to
happen in these last days
00:49:40.51\00:49:41.84
as the Bible says,
00:49:41.88\00:49:43.21
"Because they did not
receive a love of the truth
00:49:43.24\00:49:45.58
that they might be saved,
00:49:45.61\00:49:47.12
God will send
them strong delusion."
00:49:47.15\00:49:49.28
Now, God is not into
sending you a lie, but He says,
00:49:49.32\00:49:51.99
"What else can I give you,
00:49:52.02\00:49:53.36
if you choose
to reject My word."
00:49:53.39\00:49:56.19
Finally, this is an appeal
to the entire Christian world.
00:49:56.22\00:49:59.19
Whatever your denomination,
I pray that your desire
00:49:59.23\00:50:01.93
would be not just to have these
gifts operational in your life,
00:50:01.96\00:50:05.17
but start where
Jesus did in the word.
00:50:05.20\00:50:08.04
If you are in the word,
if God's word abides in you
00:50:08.07\00:50:10.97
and you abide in His
word, then these gifts
00:50:11.01\00:50:13.61
and all these abilities
have a place in a context.
00:50:13.64\00:50:16.98
Amen.
00:50:17.01\00:50:18.35
The word of God is what we need.
00:50:18.38\00:50:19.71
It is the only,
00:50:19.75\00:50:21.65
it is the only
discerning factor against error.
00:50:21.68\00:50:25.32
It is the only discerning factor
00:50:25.35\00:50:27.62
against our inability
to accomplish anything.
00:50:27.66\00:50:31.46
It gives us the wisdom we need
00:50:31.49\00:50:33.29
to operate in
all the other gifts,
00:50:33.33\00:50:35.90
and without discernment
00:50:35.93\00:50:37.53
and the word of God
being the foundation,
00:50:37.57\00:50:39.77
we cannot see
light from darkness,
00:50:39.80\00:50:41.94
truth from error,
00:50:41.97\00:50:43.54
and righteousness
from unrighteousness.
00:50:43.57\00:50:46.17
So I'm praying for discernment
first by God's word entering in
00:50:46.21\00:50:49.41
to make me all that the
Lord knows that we can be.
00:50:49.44\00:50:51.81
That's the discernment I want.
00:50:51.85\00:50:53.18
Thank you, John.
00:50:53.21\00:50:54.55
What a wonderful
lesson we've had today.
00:50:54.58\00:50:56.22
We want to once again
thank you for joining us
00:50:56.25\00:50:58.62
as we have
studied the Holy Spirit
00:50:58.65\00:51:00.39
and the Gifts of the Spirit.
00:51:00.42\00:51:01.76
We want to encourage
you, that you can look for,
00:51:01.79\00:51:05.96
if you're not already enrolled
in a Sabbath school class,
00:51:05.99\00:51:08.83
then you can actually look
00:51:08.86\00:51:10.47
for a Seventh-day Adventist
Church in your local area
00:51:10.50\00:51:13.60
and go join that
Sabbath school class,
00:51:13.64\00:51:15.10
'cause it's so
wonderful to study
00:51:15.14\00:51:17.24
with your brothers and sisters.
00:51:17.27\00:51:18.87
But thank you so much
for being with us today.
00:51:18.91\00:51:20.94
Join us again next time.
00:51:20.98\00:51:22.31
Our prayer for you is that
the grace of our Lord Jesus,
00:51:22.34\00:51:25.91
the love of the Father
00:51:25.95\00:51:27.28
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:51:27.32\00:51:28.65
was with you always.
00:51:28.68\00:51:30.59